The prevalence of online platforms like TikTok are changing the way we consume music, for better or for worse. One of the upsides about TikTok is that it allows people to be creative with the chance of going viral. Incredible musicians are given the opportunity to share their music and gain popularity in an interactive and fun way.
Below, I’ve highlighted six of my favourite singer-songwriters that I’ve found while scrolling through TikTok, who’ve made my “For You” page feel just a little too personal. When I’ve fallen down a TikTok rabbit hole, if it’s spent stalking these accounts, it never feels like a waste of time.
Isabel Pless
TikTok: @everythinghurtsman
A 21-year-old university student from Vermont, Isabel Pless’ TikTok originals are reflections of everyday life and the struggles that follow. Pless writes about drinking more water and fixing her posture, which segue into questions of anxiety, identity and growing up. A queen of introspection, her lyricism is clever, profound and intentional, her guitar tone rich and her voice willowy-soft but clear. All of these elements work together to create a sound that makes you see why her username is “everythinghurtsman.” In a cathartic way, her songs also make everything feel a little bit better. I highly recommend Pless’ music to fans of Phoebe Bridgers and to anyone who wants to feel a good tug in their chest.
Cate Downey
TikTok: @catedowneysings
For lovers of Julia Michaels and Olivia Rodrigo, Cate Downey is a singer-songwriter whose songs shine through their “addictive melodies and lyrical emotional intensity,” as written on her website. Her songwriting’s thematic specificity is impressive and the perspectives she shares are unique and relatable. Two of my favourite song snippets of Downey’s are “Puppet” and “Believed in God,” which are both pinned on her TikTok profile.
Lia Pappas-Kemps
TikTok: @liadrinkswater
Although she is perhaps best known for her role as Jane in Anne With An E, Canadian actress Lia Pappas-Kemps is also a singer-songwriter with the coolest sound I’ve heard in a while. Her writing and vocals – which are almost folksy or country sounding – shine through her TikToks. That said, the full-production songs she has on Spotify are definitely worth checking out. Her latest release, “Jinx,” is best described as an indie rock song with a youthful glow. With an Alanis Morissette-like edge, it features fun electric guitar and charming lyrics full of imagery that can only come from a teenager in love.
Jenna Doe
TikTok: @jennadoemusic
Jenna Doe calls herself a “sapphic version” of Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. With a fun, indie pop sound, Doe’s music is catchy and easy to listen to. My personal favourite of her songs is “Pink Slips,” which she mashes up with Swift’s “The Way I Loved You” on her TikTok. Doe has about five original songs available on Spotify which I encourage you to check out!
Jensen McRae
TikTok: @jensenmcrae
Possibly the most prolific singer-songwriter on this list, Jensen McRae writes about everything. Her TikTok features all sorts of songs, including some written on specific dates, and others inspired by names and journal entries. With a full voice and songs about “mental illness, being brown, fearing adulthood and falling in love with every boy who’s ever been nice to me,” McRae’s music is both relatable and sonically pleasing. She has an EP and multiple singles out on Spotify.
Liang Lawrence
TikTok: @lianglawrence
Liang Lawrence, with her acoustic guitar and silky-sweet voice is, in my opinion, the epitome of “singer-songwriter.” A 20-year-old university student from the UK, Lawrence’s sound is soft, soothing and pretty. Whether she’s singing an original or a cover (she has some lovely renditions of ABBA songs), Lawrence’s music is warm like sunshine. She is perfect to unwind with during your nightly TikTok scroll – she will sing you to sleep!